Lancaster MP getting on with job after tumultuous week

Jeremy Corbyn gives a speech at the Priory in Lancaster, with Cat Smith, MP for Lancaster in the background.

Published:16:49Tuesday 05 July 2016

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“PhDs will be written on the last week in politics”.

This is how Lancaster MP Cat Smith summed up the feeling in Westminster after the tumultuous aftermath of the EU Referendum.

But Ms Smith says she has been trying to get her head down and get on with the job of being our MP while political storms rage all around her.

Jeremy Corbyn and Cat Smith.

The newly appointed shadow minister for voter engagement and youth affairs said her priority remains her constituents despite her new Labour front bench role.

“The best thing about being an MP is being a constituency MP,” she said.

“I never aspired to be a front bencher, my aspiration was always to serve my community.

“The Labour party is having its troubles but as far as I’m concerned my priority is Lancaster and Fleetwood.

“I will do my bit on my party’s front bench but that comes second to being an MP for Lancaster and Fleetwood.”

After a week where Jeremy Corbyn refused to resign despite a vote of no confidence in his leadership by 172 MPs, there were numerous resignations from the shadow cabinet and talk of Angela Eagle challenging Mr Corbyn, Ms Smith continued to stand behind the Labour leader.

She also called the bluff of anyone wishing to take him on.

“If people want to challenge there is provision in the rulebook for that but we’ve been waiting for this challenge for over a week now,” she said.

“If there is a leadership election then people are entitled to back any candidate they wish.